Billionaire's Marriage Bargain

by Leanne Banks

  “I want a job,” Mallory said, her hands folded in her lap, her gaze steadfast. Her glorious wavy hair was pulled back into a ponytail at her nape and she emanated as much warmth as an icicle.

  Alex could hardly believe the change from his sweet, adoring and passionate bride to the cool, remote woman sitting on the chair opposite him.

  “A job,” he echoed, rolling the word around his mouth as he stood.

  “That’s right. If you insist on us remaining together, then the least you owe me is the opportunity to pursue some of my dreams.” She paused a half-beat and her eyes flickered with deep sadness. “Since some of my dreams will never come true, helping me get a job is the least you can do.”

  Alex stuffed his hands into his pockets in frustration. “Why do you want to work? You can lead a life of leisure. Or at the least, you can set your own schedule. That’s the dream of most American women and men.”

  “This isn’t a new goal for me. I mentioned it to you some time ago. If you’re deadset against it, you better tell me now. This is a deal breaker,” she said in a crisp voice.

  Alex was stunned at her inflexibility. He didn’t want his wife working. He didn’t want his wife to feel it was necessary to work. “You’re making this difficult.”

  “In the grand scheme of things, I’m not asking for all that much.”

  Resting his hands on his hips, he looked down at her, wondering where the sweet woman who’d been his wife had gone. “I can provide for you. You don’t need to work.”

  “Yes, I do. I need to feel as if I’m accomplishing something. I don’t want to feel like I’m under someone’s thumb.” She took a quick breath.

  “A job,” he said again. Alex hadn’t spent much time thinking about his future wife, but he’d always expected his wife to retire from her job once they married. After all, he could provide everything a woman could wish for.

  He looked into Mallory’s eyes and saw the combination of hurt and determination. The hurt made him feel restless. Resting his hands on his hips, he considered options.

  “I’ll have to think about it. It’s not as if any job would do since you’re my wife,” he said.

  “I’ll give you two weeks,” she said, coolly meeting his gaze.

  He lifted an eyebrow. “Or what?” he asked, surprised again that she would have the nerve to give him a deadline. Daddy’s little girl was pushing back.

  “Or I walk,” she said, rising from her seat. “You may not agree to a divorce, but I don’t have to agree to live with you, either.”

  Even though Alex knew he would eventually win any arguments she presented about living apart, he couldn’t help feeling a shocking illicit thrill at the challenge in her eyes, her voice, her body. She oozed a dare to him.

  “Fine,” he said. “I’ll find a position for you. You’ll be reviewed by someone other than me. If you don’t cut it, then it’s back to charity work and being my wife.”

  She glowered at him. “I can cut anything you throw at me. And as far as being your wife, this has become a business arrangement. It was from the beginning. I just didn’t know it. If we’re going to have a loveless marriage, it’s going to be a sexless marriage.”

  Alex blinked. She couldn’t be serious, not with the chemistry they shared. He laughed. “Good joke.”

  “I am not joking,” she said, looking so furious he wondered if steam would come pouring out of her ears any minute. “Why should I continue to humiliate myself—”

  “I didn’t know you found sex with me humiliating,” he cut in. “I could have sworn those were sounds of pleasure you were making.”

  She inhaled sharply. “This marriage is a sham. Everything between us is a sham.”

  “That’s not true and you know it. You’re exaggerating because you’re still upset,” he said and shook his head when she opened her mouth. “This argument is unnecessary. You can stay in another bedroom if that’s what you want, but it won’t last. Now, is that all?”

  She silently met his gaze for a long moment, her hands knotted in fury, her cheeks pink from barely restrained temper. She looked like she wanted to slap him. “Yes,” she hissed.

  “Then I need to get to work. You can either ride with me or I’ll send a driver for you.”

  “I’m not riding with you,” she said. “In fact, I think I’ll stay here for the next two weeks.”

  Alex shook his head. “No. I said you may choose another bedroom, not another house. Besides, we have appearances scheduled for this weekend.”

  “You can’t really expect me to appear with you in public and act as if everything between us is all lovey-dovey.”

  “I can and I do,” he said. “I’ll leave you with something to think about. We didn’t profess our love to each other before we were married, and you had no aversion to sharing my bed then. I’ll see you tonight at dinner.” He leaned toward her to kiss her goodbye, but she turned her head.

  Even though Alex had won the argument, the victory was hollow. He hadn’t realized how much the affection in Mallory’s gaze had felt like a ray of sunshine.

  Malloy rode to the condo in a sedan driven by Todd. Scowling at the sunny day, she pumped her foot as she crossed one leg over the other. What she wouldn’t give to wring Alex’s neck and wipe that insufferable confidence off his face.

  She’d never felt more trapped in her life. She felt as if the very life was being choked out of her. How could he possibly expect her to pretend their marriage wasn’t just a big show? How could she possibly act as if she adored him when she was already fantasizing about fixing a dinner that would cause him a week’s worth of indigestion?

  After a while, she would wear him down. He would tire of having a wife in name only. He may not love her, but he wanted her to warm his bed. She scowled again at the thought. She’d been so easy, so eager to please. Now Alex would see a different side of her. A side that would make him give her the freedom she deserved.

  Mallory allowed herself to stew over the situation until she arrived at the condo. Then she chose her new bedroom, the one farthest away from Alex’s. No need to tempt him. She wouldn’t need to worry about being tempted by him. Now that she knew the truth about him, she couldn’t possibly feel even a spark of lust, let alone love. She moved all her clothes and belongings to the room and studied how she could make her new bedroom a place of comfort and solace.

  She decided to go shopping for candles, pillows and anything else that caught her attention. At the mall, the local animal league was holding a fund and adoption drive. Mallory stroked the soft fur of the dogs and cats. She’d always wanted a pet, but her mother had been allergic.

  But she no longer lived in the same house as her mother. An idea occurred to her as she petted a kitten. If she was looking for comfort, a pet would be perfect. She wondered how Alex would feel about having a pet. It would be inconsiderate to get one without asking his opinion.

  On the other hand, it had been incredibly inconsiderate for him to marry her for business reasons, too. Mallory smiled to herself as she looked at the animals. Alex would probably hate having a pet. All the more reason for her to get one, although Mallory would never adopt an animal out of spite. Adopting a pet would be one little dream of hers that she could still make come true. If she and Alex remained married, there would be no children. The realization saddened her. She would need to give her affection to some other living being.

  Mallory spent the rest of the afternoon shopping for her new bedroom and the two cats she adopted from the animal shelter. New collars, cat food, an electronic litter box, cat carriers.

  As she pulled up to the entrance of the condo, the valet opened the door for her and glanced in her back seat. “Would you like some help taking your bags upstairs?”

  “Yes, please. That would be wonderful,” Mallory said, grabbing the two cat carriers while her new furry friends made plaintive cries. “I don’t think they like the carriers, but I don’t trust them loose yet.”

  The nice valet helped her car
ry everything up to the penthouse.

  As she opened the door, she caught the scent of dinner cooking. Surprised because she hadn’t requested anything, she wondered if Alex had called from work with instructions. The prospect of seeing him again almost destroyed her good mood, but when she looked at her new kitties again, she had to smile.

  Jean, the housekeeper, walked into the foyer and blinked at the sight of the cat carriers. “Cats?” she said in disbelief.

  “Yes, aren’t they darling?” Mallory asked. “I’ll put them in my room for now, but later—”

  “Your room,” Jean echoed, grabbing several bags the valet had deposited at the front door and trying to keep up with Mallory.

  “Yes,” Mallory said, walking through the den and down the long hallway to the end. “I guess Alex didn’t have a chance to tell you, but this will be my room. I may redecorate, but I’ll figure that out later.” She bent down to let out the long-haired black cat with glowing green eyes. “His name is Gorgeous,” she said as she stroked his silky, soft fur.

  The other cat mewed in envy and Mallory laughed. “I know. It’s your turn, Indie,” she said, releasing the short-haired calico and rubbing her under her chin. “Aren’t they sweet?”

  The housekeeper shot a wary eye at Gorgeous, who’d sprang onto an upholstered chair. She cleared her throat. “Mrs. Megalos, I’m not sure Mr. Megalos is a cat lover.”

  “That’s okay. I’ll take care of them,” Mallory said.

  Jean cleared her throat again then nodded. “Mr. Megalos asked me to tell you as soon as you arrived that the two of you are having dinner on the upper terrace. He asked the chef to prepare your favorite dish.”

  I’m sure he did, Mallory thought as she narrowed her eyes. If Alex thought Crab Imperial on the terrace was going to be enough to win her back to his bed, then he was sadly mistaken. “Thanks. How soon will it be ready?” Mallory asked.

  “He requested that you join him as soon as you arrive,” Jean said.

  Mallory nodded. “Please tell him I’ll be upstairs as soon as I set up the litter box and wash up.”

  “You want me to mention the litter box?” Jean asked in a strained voice, clearly reluctant to be the bearer of that news.

  “Good thinking,” Mallory said. “Ask him to come in here so I can surprise him.”

  The housekeeper looked at her as if she’d lost her mind, but nodded. “As you wish.”

  As Indie circled around her, Mallory pulled out the litter box and poured the litter into it.

  “What the hell—”

  Mallory glanced up to find Alex staring at Indie. He met her gaze and even though the real reason she’d gotten the cats was for her own edification, she got a tiny thrill at the look of shock on his face. “A cat?”

  “Two,” she said with a smile that was completely sincere. She pointed at Gorgeous sitting in the chair. “The volunteers at the animal rescue league told me cats are happier in pairs. I was going to get kittens, but I decided on adults because not as many people want them. Meet Gorgeous and Indie,” she said and picked up the calico. “I love cats. Don’t you?”

  He opened his mouth then rubbed his hand over it. “Tell me again why you got two,” he said.

  “So they won’t be lonely while I’m at work,” she said.

  Alex clenched his jaw and gave a short nod. “Dinner’s ready. I asked the chef to prepare your favorite.”

  “Yes, thank you. Jean told me. I’ll wash up and join you,” she said, feeling the strain between them pull like an overstretched rubber band. She hated the sensation.

  Leaving her new furry friends in her new room, she freshened up and climbed the stairs to the upper level of the terrace. A light breeze softened the blazing heat. Alex stood, looking over the balcony, his mind seemingly a million miles away. The wind ruffled his wavy hair and his white shirt. He appeared so isolated. She wondered if he would ever admit to feeling lonely. She wondered if he would ever admit to needing someone. Needing her?

  Slamming the door on such useless thoughts, she lifted her chin. She could and would get through this. “The Crab Imperial smells delicious,” she said, taking a seat at the table.

  Alex glanced up and walked to the table. It struck her that he moved with the grace of a primitive, wild animal. A tiger, she decided. He moved his chair next to hers and sat down, his leg immediately brushing hers.

  Mallory’s heart skipped and she moved her leg away from his. She wished she wasn’t so aware of him. She shouldn’t be, she thought, taking a sip of white wine. Not after what he’d done.

  “You’ve been busy today,” he said, picking up his fork and taking a bite.

  “I had a lot to do,” she said and took a bite of the Crab Imperial. It tasted like sawdust.

  “You didn’t need to move into another room so quickly,” he said. “You could have slept on your decision.”

  “No, I couldn’t,” she said, suspecting that if she’d slept on her decision she would have never moved out. She would have simply remained under Alex’s spell forever, feeling and acting like a weak fool.

  She took another bite and it tasted the same, sawdust. Blast it. “What did you find out about jobs for me today?”

  He took a long sip of wine and speared a piece of crab with his fork. “Technically nothing.”

  Mallory’s blood pressure immediately rose. “I really meant it when I said I wanted a job. I can interview for one on my own.”

  “That won’t be necessary. I’ve decided you’ll work for me,” he said.

  She blinked. “How?”

  “I’ve been working double time because of the resort I’m developing in West Virginia. Your father has supplied the investors.”

  “In trade for you being my husband,” she said, a bitter taste filling her mouth.

  “He would have done it, anyway. It’s a good investment.”

  “Why was it necessary? You have enough money on your own,” she blurted out.

  “One of the rules of wealth management is that you use other people’s money to accomplish your goals. You don’t risk your own.”

  She was surprised at his acumen, but shouldn’t have been. “Where do I fit in with this?”

  “I want you to interface with my contacts in West Virginia. There will be very limited travel,” he said.

  “I don’t want my wife spending most of her time away from me. I’m balancing several demands at Megalos-De Luca Enterprises and the personal resort start-up, so I won’t be able to get your job in place for another week or so.”

  “As long as it’s within two weeks,” she said, feeling as if she had to hold the line. Alex had made her forget everything but him. She couldn’t let that happen again.

  “I’ll make it worth the wait,” he said in such a sexy way that it sent a shiver down her all the way to her toes.

  Upset by her reaction to him, Mallory rushed down a couple of bites of the dish and gulped some wine. “That was delicious. I’m full. If you don’t mind excusing me—”

  “Already?” he said with a raised eyebrow that could have made her back down in other circumstances. But not now.

  “The cats,” she said. “I need to get them acclimated to their new home.”

  He gave a slow nod that made her feel as if she may have won round one, but the game was far from over. “We have a cocktail party with the other VPs, CEO and board members of Megalos-De Luca Enterprises the day after tomorrow.”

  She blinked in surprise. “That’s not much notice.”

  “No, it isn’t,” he said. “The board is introducing a reengineering specialist.”

  “You don’t sound happy,” she said.

  “I’m not. Neither is Max De Luca.”

  She shivered at the cold expression on his face. “I can’t imagine anyone in their right mind who would want to go up against the two of you.”

  He lifted his mouth in a smile that bared his teeth like a wolf. “I always thought you were a clever woman.”

  She stood. “
Just not clever enough to see through the ruse you and my father cooked up.”

  Alex shot from his chair and snagged her wrist. “There was always something between us, Mallory. You can’t deny that.”

  She knew she’d always had feelings for him. That was all. She shook her head. “I have no idea what your true feelings, if any, are for me.”

  “I can show you,” he offered and lowered his head.

  She turned her head away and his mouth seared her cheek. Her heart was hammering a mile a minute. “I want more than a man who’s interested in me for the money my father can find for him. I want more than sex.”

  Eleven

  The tension at the Megalos-De Luca cocktail party was so thick it reminded Mallory of trying to breathe in a dust storm. The room vibrated with such suspicion she couldn’t wait to leave.

  Spotting Lilli De Luca, she felt a smidgeon of relief and waved. Lilli smiled in return and moved toward Mallory. “Hi,” she said, giving Mallory a quick hug. “This is horrible, isn’t it?” she said in a low voice.

  Mallory gave a short laugh, nodding in agreement. “I couldn’t agree more. It feels like we’re waiting for the gallows.”

  Lilli’s pretty features wrinkled in concern. “I know. Max has been very upset about this. He won’t talk about it, but he’s not sleeping well at all. What about Alex?”

  Mallory felt a twist of self-consciousness. She didn’t know how Alex was sleeping because she wasn’t sharing his bed. “He’s bothered, too.”

  Lilli nodded. “The two of them are talking more and more. It’s interesting how something like this can turn two men who were competitors into more of a team. You find out a lot about a man by how he acts when the pressure’s on.”

  The discussion made Mallory even more uncomfortable. She would examine why later. “How’s David?”

  Lilli lit up. She lifted her hand and showed a miniscule of space between her thumb and forefinger. “He’s this close to crawling. Max is egging him on even though I keep telling Max we’ll both be doing a lot more chasing once David is mobile.”

  Mallory felt a stab of loss as she thought about the babies she wouldn’t have with Alex.